by Geneva Vand
He almost didn't make his bus. He had to run for it, plastic grocery bag banging against his leg because he hadn't taken the time to stuff it all in his messenger bag. Eric thumped down into a bus seat, tired and confused.
He rubbed a piece of the plastic bag between his fingers while he stared out the window, not really watching the blocks of houses go by.
Why was he so compelled to take care of whoever was staying in that stupid empty store? It didn't make sense, but he kept doing it anyway. And now he was going out of town for the weekend and part of next week, and his only real concern about the trip was that he wasn't comfortable leaving them alone.
Which was stupid! He hadn't even seen them! It wasn't like they were hanging out! Eric dropped off granola bars, took the trash, looked at the empty room that drew him like a magnet drew iron, and left.
There was no relationship there. He was feeding someone, but he wasn't really taking care of them. He hadn't agreed to take responsibility for anyone. He had no obligations here.
He sighed loudly enough to draw the attention of the woman across the aisle and pulled the cord to request his stop.
The walk to the strip mall only took a few minutes. He yanked the door open and stepped inside, blinking in the dim light. Per usual, nothing had changed. He sighed and walked over to the chairs, talking while he pulled things out of the bag.
"I'm going out of town. A camping trip with friends that we've been planning for a while. I won't see you for..." Eric paused and counted days. "Um. Five days. I brought—"
Whoever he was feeding had left him a present. Sitting on the chair was a short length of thin braided cord. He stared at it for a moment before he quickly set what he was carrying down in a jumbled pile. He carefully picked up the item to get a better look.
One end had an open loop that was obviously meant to hook over the large knot at the other, making it a bracelet. Some of the not-feathers had been woven into it. They didn't stick out, but were instead braided in like ribbons, making the whole thing sort of shimmer. It was beautiful, but still sturdy and something he would actually wear. He laughed quietly and looped it around his wrist. Perfect fit. Somehow.
Eric shook his head slightly and took a quick look at the room. Still empty. Why was he not surprised?
"Thank you!" he called out. "It's lovely." He held his wrist up so that the bracelet was visible.
He dropped it again because he felt stupid showing an empty room a present.
Eric cleared his throat. "Um. Like I said, I'm going to be gone for a while. I brought you extra. I'm sorry if it's not enough." He frowned down at the little stack of food. "It's probably not enough. Dammit. I'll stop by the day after I get back. Um. Thanks again for the bracelet. It's really beautiful."
Well, he supposed showing a present to an empty room was no worse that talking to an empty room. Or feeding an empty room. He scuffed his boot against the floor then knelt down to tidy the packages. He set them on the chair in a little row and picked up the garbage that had been left under the chair.
That done, he stood, straightening his messenger bag, and headed for the door. He paused after he pushed it open, looking over his shoulder. Nothing there. It was odd, but the past few times, he'd felt like something was watching him as he left. He never saw anyone though, so maybe it was just his imagination. But he was definitely feeding someone, so maybe not.
Eric shook his head again, walking out onto the sunny sidewalk. It didn't really matter, did it? He'd probably never meet whoever was eating the food. He just hoped they were all right until Thursday.
*~*~*
Five days? Oh. I would have to go out. I still went out in search of extra food every couple days anyway because I could not live on just grain bars and water. Or I preferred not to.
I straightened from where I had crouched behind the wall of boxes, watching the Human. He had left much more behind than usual, and I was curious. I went over to the chair and started sorting through the strange items there. Some things I was already familiar with, either from what he had brought before or from what I had found when I went scavenging.
I was confused by the box, until I opened it to find it contained eight of the plastic tubes that the grain bars came in. These were a different kind, though. I opened one and sniffed. Oh! I slid it out and took a bite. The strange coating on the outside tasted like sugary berries and the grain inside was softer. These were good, much better than the others. I chewed contentedly as I investigated the other objects.
The bottle of water was familiar, though larger than what he usually left. I would still need to get more. The little bag was difficult to open but worth it because it was full of dried bitter-sweet berries of some kind. Humans seemed to be very fond of berry-type fruits. Or maybe it was only that they were common in foods it was easy for the Human to bring to me. Either way, it was odd. But I liked them, so I supposed I should not complain, even if it was only in confused mutterings to myself.
I had left the package of little boxes for last because I had never seen anything like them before. The thin sheet of plastic was easy to tear, and I pulled out one of the boxes. It had a picture of a tree on it, with words that I couldn't read. The plastic tube stuck on the side was similar to the tubes my people gave small children for drinking so I freed it and stuck it through the circle in the top of the box.
Sweet smelling sticky liquid spurted everywhere, startling me. I lost my grip on the little box and it sat on its side on the floor, leaking slowly. Carefully, I picked it up and licked some of the liquid off the top.
Blegh! That was terrible! Was it supposed to taste like that? I frowned and drank some from the tube. It was supposed to taste like that. Why? I looked at the little box in disgust. Maybe it tasted better to Humans. I would happily go out scavenging if it meant I did not have to drink more of that.
I put the rest of the package of tree covered boxes on the floor under the chair, feeling slightly guilty. I felt bad refusing something the Human had brought for me, but there was no way I was going to drink that. I scrunched up my face in disgust as I carefully set the open box next to the others.
I gathered up the water, dried berries, and grain bars to take back to my corner. I would go out tonight, to make the nice food last longer. If I found enough tonight I might not have to go out again before the Human came back.
STRANGE BEASTS
"Eric!"
He jumped and looked up at his friend, Will, standing in front of him. "Yeah?" he asked.
"Jesus, man. You visiting Jupiter or somethin'?"
Eric grinned. "Nah, man. Just Uranus."
There was a loud chorus of raucous laughter from the direction of the fire pit a few yards away. Will scoffed, his freckled face looking disgusted. "Only in your dreams, babe. Especially with puns that bad. You want another hamburger or what?"
Eric shook his head. "Nope, I'm good. We bring stuff for s'mores?"
Will shrugged and looked over his shoulder. "Hey, Alex, did you get stuff for s'mores?" he shouted.
"Luc stopped at Walmart. There should be a bag in the truck cab."
"Good deal." Eric pushed up from the picnic table bench he'd been sitting on and headed toward the blue truck parked on the grass a little ways away. "It locked?" he called.
"Catch!"
Eric turned and raised his hands just in time to keep the keys Luc threw at him from catching him square in the face. "Shit, Lucas. You trying to take me out?"
Luc just laughed. Eric rolled his eyes and unlocked the driver's door, popping open that and the little half door so he could rummage through the crap in the back seat. A few bags in, he found a Walmart bag stuffed with marshmallows, graham crackers, Hershey's bars, and cheap metal skewers. He tugged it out, relocked the truck and went to claim his chair by the fire.
He’d barely sat down before his friends mobbed him, grabbing skewers and ripping open the bags of marshmallows. Eric laughed and quickly took some of his own before they were gone.
&nbs
p; He stuck his skewered marshmallow in near some embers and looked around his motley circle of friends. They were an odd bunch. All five of them had grown up on the fifth floor of a shitty apartment building in a poor, mostly white neighborhood. He figured their childhoods had been pretty standard. But that a black kid, a Mexican boy, two white kids, and a Japanese boy had managed to become friends and stay that way though racist parents, stupid teachers, college in different states, and careers in a couple different cities was pretty freaking awesome. They still got together a few times a year, but the late summer camping trip was the only one that was set in stone.
Eric sighed happily and leaned back in his camp chair, watching the others poke and prod at each other around the fire. With his free hand, he idly rubbed his fingers back and forth over the bracelet he still wore. Would the food he left be enough?
Kaz leaned over and poked him in the arm. "Your marshmallow's melting, Eric."
Eric looked back down at his treat just in time to see it ooze its way off the skewer onto the coals. "Shit."
Kaz laughed, his dark eyes crinkling at the corners. "What's with you, man? You've been distracted since we got here."
Eric shook his head. "Nothing." When Kaz just looked at him, Eric groaned. "It's nothing. It's stupid."
Eric found that he immediately had everyone's attention.
Alex brushed his very blond hair out of his eyes and raised a brow. "Hey guys, isn't that exactly what he said right before he finally told us he was bi?"
Luc nodded seriously. "It is."
Eric shrank back in his chair. "Shit. Come on."
Will scooted his chair closer to Eric's right side. The big white man leaned his brown-haired head on Eric's shoulder and sort of draped an arm over his back. "C'mon. Spill. You'll feel better."
Eric groaned and sank lower in his chair. The others laughed quietly. Will straightened so that he wasn't leaning on Eric anymore but left his arm where it was.
"Seriously, dude. What's up?" Luc asked.
Eric glared at the short, slender Hispanic man over the fire. "Nothing's up."
Alex shook his head, looking very serious. "Nope. We all call bullshit. Tell us. Now."
Eric looked around the fire. "This is starting to feel like an intervention or something."
"Nah, man," Kaz said from his left. "Just trying to figure out what's going on in that weird big brain of yours."
Eric glared at Kaz. "My brain is big and weird now?"
Luc laughed. "You're a geeky librarian that likes to bring home strays regardless of their species and how likely they are to try to eat you. You're pretty weird."
Bring home strays. Eric's cheeks heated. He ducked his head and poked at the fire with his skewer.
"Oh, shit!" Will said suddenly. "You picked up a stray!"
Alex laughed. "Really? That's why he's spacing out?"
Eric sighed and stabbed his skewer into the dirt, watching the loop handle wave back and forth after he let go. "Sort of."
Luc raised one dark eyebrow. "How do you sorta pick up a stray?"
"I'm feeding somebody. I haven't seen them yet."
"Say what?" Will said.
Eric turned his head to look at Will. "They're camping out in the empty store in that horrible strip mall."
Lucas nodded sagely. "And you left your babe by itself to come camping and now you're freaking out. This totally makes sense."
Alex bumped Luc with his elbow. "Remember all those critters he brought your mom? Like, at least once a month he'd bring home some poor half-dead animal he'd found and get your mom to help him fix it."
Kaz laughed loudly. "My favorite was the raccoon. Remember? He hid it in a box in the laundry room in the basement? Old Mrs. Jackson found it and yelled all the way up to his apartment. You could hear her two floors down cussing him out."
Eric listened to them trot gleefully down memory lane, rehashing all the poor animals he'd brought home as a kid. He was just glad his present ‘critter’ was out of the direct spotlight for now.
Will leaned in close, not quite resting his head on Eric's shoulder again. "I'm sure they're fine," he said quietly.
"I know. I just wonder about them, you know? It's weird, though, right? I mean, I don't even know who they are."
Will shook his head slightly. "Nah. Not weird. Just you. Anyway, you'll check in when we get home. They'll be fine."
Eric nodded. "Yeah," he muttered, trying to convince himself he believed it. "They'll be fine."
Will rubbed his hand roughly over Eric's head and straightened. Eventually Eric let himself be drawn back into the conversation going on around the fire. He tried to be present, but the mystery person stayed around to nibble at the edge of his brain for most of the long weekend.
*~*~*
I stood at the windows looking out. It was getting dark and there weren't many Humans around. I should be able to sneak out while there was a little bit of light left. Not that it mattered. It would be full dark long before I got back.
I didn't want to go out tonight, but I hadn't found enough food when I had gone out two days ago. I had eaten all the grain bars and most of the dried berries, as well as the meager findings from my first two, mostly unsuccessful, trips. I had thought the Human would come back today and I wouldn't have to go out again, but now it was late, and I didn't think he would be coming.
I waited a few minutes longer, really wanting to leave while there was still some light but unsure. I fidgeted, scuffing the edges of my shoes in the dust. The sole got caught in a crack in the floor, pulling the straps across the top of my foot uncomfortably tight. I winced and bent down to fix them, then forced myself to stand still and watch the world outside the windows.
Finally, I opened the door and crept down the sidewalk to the end of the building. I was so glad my empty room was at the opposite end of the building from the busy place that seemed to be some kind of store. Even if one of the Humans appeared when I wasn't expecting them to, I should still have time to hide.
I quickly darted around the side of the building, keeping close to the wall until I reached the dirty little road behind it. Crouching in the shadows, I watched the road carefully. When I was satisfied no one was there, I crossed and ducked through some bushes on the other side.
I had found a Human food vendor about five minutes away that almost always left something out by their rear door. Once there had been several small crates of fruit. I disliked my thievery and had only taken one, but had eaten well for days. I always checked there first. I had found other places too, but this one was best and so far I hadn't been caught.
I quickly reached another dirty little road that went behind the food place. I crept up to the door, wary of anyone who might come out. I slumped when I saw that I wasn't lucky tonight. I was either too late or too early and there was nothing. I dared not wait.
I continued down the dirty street, heading to the next closest place. I made it there without any problems and found a box of dark, heavy bread sitting outside. I sighed in relief and reached into the box. There were many loaves there, so I took two, hoping they wouldn't be missed. I wouldn't have to come back out tomorrow, even if the Human didn't bring me anything.
As I straightened, I heard a rustling noise behind me. Startled, I turned quickly, almost tripping over the box of bread. I regained my balance as I stared at the intimidating four-legged animals in front of me. They were big, reaching up to my hips. Their muscular shoulders were covered in dark fur and their ears were pointed and aimed toward me. The one closest to me was growling, showing me very large, sharp teeth. The other started to stalk toward me, its huge feet landing quietly in the dirt.
I glanced behind me. There was no wall at the end of the dirty street. I could try to run. I looked back at the animals. The one growling was standing still, its legs braced, and had not moved. The other was still creeping closer. I stepped to the side and back, moving around the box without looking away from the animals. The one that had been still came towards
me until the beasts stood shoulder to shoulder. Both of them were growling now. They stepped forward together. One bared its teeth at me and I shuddered.
I would have to run.
Would I be fast enough? I didn't know how fast the animals were. They had long, slender legs. Probably very fast. I was not very fast. But I had to try.
Clutching the bread to my chest, I spun around and raced down the road as fast as I could. I didn't look back, knowing that would slow me down. The ground was rough, tripping me up and letting the animals gain on me. I could hear them right behind me.
I reached an intersection and turned, hoping to circle back and reach the safety of my hiding place. I had managed to turn again to go back in the direction I had come when my foot slid in some loose rocks. I fell hard and landed on my chest in the dirt. I turned my head as I fell, but the side of my face hit the ground, stunning me for a moment. I blinked and spat grit out of my mouth.
I tried to get to my feet without losing the food, but one of the animals caught my shoe in its teeth. I scrambled to my knees, trying to pull away. A harsh scream escaped me when the second animal grabbed my other leg.
I flipped over as much as I could, reaching for the strap that held the thick sole to the bottom of my foot. I tore at the buckle, pulling my foot loose and kicking hard. I caught that animal in the jaw, making it yelp in surprise and back up shaking its head.
With one foot free, I kicked as hard as I could at the animal holding my other leg. I hit it hard, but it didn't let go. Instead it backed up while I kicked at it, dragging me over the sharp rocks and tearing my leg with its teeth.
I gasped in pain as the rocks tore through the thin fabric of my clothing and gouged into me. Desperate, I grabbed a handful of the pointy gravel and flung it at the animal. Again and again I threw rocks and dirt and kicked at the beast holding my leg.
The one that I had lost my shoe to came back and tried to catch me again as well. I flailed and kicked, trying to keep it from grabbing me.
